Running a restaurant is not an easy business. Currently, the restaurant industry is still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns. New restaurants and dining establishments face regulations and expectations that older competitors never did.    However, managing a restaurant isn’t impossible. All you need are a few tips to set you in the right direction.    As a restaurant manager, there are several things you can do to distinguish your establishment from its competitors. Luckily, we have just the tips you need.    Keep reading to discover our best strategies for managing a restaurant. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.   Focus on Providing an Experience for Customers Your primary goal as a restaurant manager is to bring customers through your doors. The question is, how do you do that? How can you convince people to spend money at your pizza restaurant when they could eat a frozen pizza for less at home?    The answer is simple. All you have to do is provide them with a worthwhile experience.    People enjoy the experience and ease of going to a restaurant for a meal. So, give them an experience they can’t replicate at home for a price they can’t refuse.    Trim Your Menu when Managing a Restaurant It may seem counterintuitive, but cutting down your menu can actually help business. Trimming your menu makes your restaurant more efficient and reduces food waste. It’s also easier to train new employees with a shorter menu.    To determine what options to cut, look for signs of underperformance. Whatever meals get the least attention are safe options for removal. Digital menu boards let you add or remove items instantly while also making a positive impression of your bar or restaurant. Treat Your Restaurant Staff Well Running a restaurant requires you to provide an experience to customers. But, it also means managers must give their employees favorable experiences. Employee turnover in the food industry is incredibly high, and hiring new workers is a hassle.   So, try to keep the workers you have. There are several ways to do this.    First, lay the groundwork on an employee’s first day to ensure they have a positive experience. Let your best and most patient workers train them on the job.    Also, schedule your workers’ shifts fairly. Listen to the individual needs of your workers and devise a system that allows them to trade shifts easily and efficiently.    Finally, make sure you reward good work appropriately!   Use Software to Streamline Operations Streamlining a restaurant can be challenging for a manager. Fortunately, you don’t have to work alone!    Instead, you can use software solutions to streamline your restaurant’s systems. Cloud-based software can do several things for a restaurant: Develop and share a tipping system Create menu(s) Track your inventory Employee time tracking Monitor discounts and sales  If you’re not using this software, find a provider soon. This resource can drastically improve your restaurant’s performance.  Modisoft’s Restaurant Management Software Following these tips can help with managing a restaurant in several ways. These tips can reduce employee turnover, streamline in樂威壯 -house operations, and enhance a customer’s experience.   All you need is the software that will monitor these changes. Fortunately, Modisoft provides just the software for you.   Modisoft’s Back Office software can bolster your restaurant management systems, providing several services that any restaurant can benefit from. Contact us today to learn more!  

  A recent survey found that 52% of individuals feel unsafe dining inside, which has increased the need for takeout and delivery options. With many areas still utilizing social distancing measures due to the pandemic, adapting your restaurant’s food and drink offerings makes it more accessible for those who are looking for takeout food to comfortably eat at home. It also opens up a whole new revenue stream that may have not been utilized before.   How to Optimize Your Menu There are a few steps you can take to optimize your online menu for takeout and delivery. By enhancing the appearance of your menu and using intuitive software, you can expand the ability to meet customer expectations.   Bring Your Menu To Life High-quality pictures make a difference in whether a customer chooses a menu item or not. Show your customers what you have to offer with professional photos of menu items and a clear organization of your menu. While you can’t show off meals from neighboring tables with delivery options, you can at least show your menu in a new updated and digital form. Bringing your menu to life also means writing compelling descriptions that list ingredients, showcase the dish, and provide any allergy warnings. With a clear description, your customers will know exactly what they are ordering, which helps avoid any mishaps or misunderstandings in the online ordering process.   Adapt Your Menu For Mobile The majority of consumers order food through their smartphones. Having a menu that adapts to both desktop and mobile capability gives more accessibility for customers to navigate your menu with ease. Make sure the text on the mobile version is concise, simple, and has a big enough font for customers to easily read. Self-serve ordering and QR codes also help customers reach your menu without having to do too much work in finding it.   Be Clear About Safety Measures The pandemic has created new rules for different areas of health and safety. Make sure to state the rules clearly that your restaurant is following in order to ensure public safety for everyone. This may include a note about what the staff is doing to keep everyone safe, as well as the safety methods in place for contactless delivery. The best way to add safety measures is to include a banner on your website that offers more information about safety protocols.   Choose Packing That Keeps Food Fresh Packing is important for takeout and delivery, as some packing options may take away the freshness of the food items. From airtight containers, insulated packages, and refrigerated food, know what type of packing works for each menu item. If need be, adapt your menu to more takeout-friendly food and prioritize items that will not need customized packaging to go with delivery options. Consider dishes that travel well and still look great upon delivery. Customers still have expectations about the presentation of the food, which is why it is important to know which food items are able to hold their shape the best while in transit. If an order comes in separate containers for one dish, have an easy-to-read instruction list on how to assemble it as it would look in the restaurant.   Include Add-Ons or Variations Many customers still want the ability to add extra items or adapt their meals. By having the ability to add items quickly in an online ordering system, customers can see which options are available or leave a note to the chef about any allergies. Whether they want to add cheese, bacon, or a side of fries, make sure all items are clear within the online ordering system.   Make Themed Meals For Special Occasions While takeout is not quite the same as eating in the restaurant, there still are a few ways you can help customers re-create the experience. Alongside your regular menu, consider creating themed dishes around special occasions like date nights, movie nights with friends, or birthdays. Having a themed dish helps customers feel special and look forward to choosing themed meals again in the future.   Delight Customers With a Free Treat A small free treat can go a long way when it comes to customer loyalty. While dining-in options usually create more opportunities for ordering extra items, adding a free dessert or a starter helps customers feel like they are a part of a regular dining experience.   Provide Delivery or Pickup Options For some customers, picking up the order makes more sense while they are on their way home, while others want the direct delivery options. By giving choices, you put the power back into the customer’s hands and it helps with wait times and long queues for delivery.   Give Out Deals for Online Ordering Online ordering is easy to incentivize if you offer more value for meals. Whether that is through an all-in-one option or a Friday night discount, make sure to offer meal deals that appeal to your target audience. Giving out deals can also include adding a loyalty program that customers can join. This can be through a subscription model, points system, or email marketing program to help incentivize customers. Optimizing your menu can be easy with the right digital system for online ordering that can be adapted to fit different menu needs, as well as meet the expectations of customers for a positive experience for your business.  

  Starting your own restaurant can feel like a daunting and exciting process all at once. In this guide, you’ll learn the checklist you should consider before opening your doors and how to manage your business as you get started.   Steps to Get You Started   Create a Business Plan A business plan should include an executive summary, company description, industry analysis, geographic analysis, target market research, a food safety plan, potential menu, marketing ideas, management strategy, and financial plan. Anything that pertains to your business should be within the plan and approved by the right people in order to begin your business idea.   Know Your Startup Costs Being aware of startup and operational costs helps you determine how you finance your restaurant. From an investor to a small business loan, make sure to check what options are available to you in order to get your business up off the ground. With an idea about cash flow in the financial plan, you can adjust costs accordingly and prioritize what needs to be done.   Get The Necessary Licenses and Permits There may be multiple licenses and permits you need to attain in order to open your doors. While a standard business license can get you started, there are still food permits and liquor licenses that should be considered. This looks different for every region, which means it is important to do your research and know what you need for specific locations.   Register Your Restaurant Register your business with the IRS to get an Employer Identification Number that is necessary for filing taxes. Consider trademarking the name of your business as well to protect your restaurant from potential poachers who want a piece of your success.   Define the Menu, Atmosphere, and Location Visibility, foot traffic, and the right name can all contribute to the success of your business. Make sure to location scout and know what area may be right for your floor plan idea, the type of customers you plan to attract, and the menu that potentially will be offered. While some of this may change when the doors open, it is important to start out strong.   Order the Right Equipment Equipment is a necessary part of running a business and can be costly for restaurants. Be strategic about whether to buy or lease items and stick to the basics for what you absolutely need. Consult your financial analysis to determine where finances can be allocated.   Hire Personable Staff Make a list of staff members you need in order to run front and back of house efficiently. From there, you can look for personable staff who are the right fit for your team. While payroll can be quite complex with differing laws and regulations that surround tips and wages, you can simplify the process through payroll software that makes it easy to track payments.   Manage a Marketing Initiative A marketing initiative is an important part of spreading awareness about your new restaurant. Google ad placement, social media campaigns, email marketing, and word-of-mouth can all contribute to awareness. Utilize current marketing trends to leverage your business towards success.   Create The Ideal Menu To tie everything together for your restaurant business plan, create the ideal menu you want to serve. The menu should reflect the core ideas of your business and is the centerpiece that draws customers in. Descriptions for menu items should be clear and convey the concept of your restaurant with precision.   Where You Fit In The Restaurant Industry Knowing the competitive landscape you are entering into is an important aspect of strategizing how you plan to open and market your restaurant. Restaurants are categorized into five different types. Depending on your type of restaurant, there may be different expectations and requirements in the industry.   Fast Food Restaurant Fast food restaurants are also called quick-service restaurants, or QSRs. Quick service means fast preparation and casual service with limited seating and customers more often getting takeout.   Fast-casual Fast-casual mirrors fast foodservice by offering freshly prepared food that is high-quality. Establishments like this typically do not offer seating, but do have higher prices due to the ingredients in their food.   Casual Dining Casual dining is a full-service establishment at an affordable price. The atmosphere is often relaxed where customers sit down and enjoy a meal without having to spend too much.   Family Dining Family dining does not serve alcohol and often offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Establishments are similar to casual dining but are often seen open for longer hours due to the wide range of menu options.   Fine Dining Fine dining is an upscale dining experience that has a higher price point. Customers have high expectations for service, top-quality food, and a classy atmosphere. Fine dining usually serves alcohol and can feature multiple course meals.   Understand Restaurant Safety and Food Protocol There are several regional, state, and federal agencies that play a role in safety measures for food handling. The guidelines for handling food and beverages are created to ensure there are no food-borne illnesses and to keep customers safe. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) all contribute to the rules that should be abided by. The rules depend on the type of food you serve, as well as what should be in your restaurant to ensure safe food processes. If you are looking at opening multiple locations, make sure you read and understand the guidelines for each specific location. Your restaurant will go through several inspections around safety and operational compliance. This can include food handling, food storage, employee hygiene, and operational excellence.   The Cost of Opening a Business Restaurant opening costs can vary depending on the location, what you offer, and staff requirements. While starting a business can be costly, it is not impossible with the right steps in place. Remember to keep costs low where